North Carolina

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Safe Routes to School in North Carolina

North Carolina Safe Routes to School State Network

North Carolina is one of seven jurisdictions participating in the Safe Routes to School state network project (network project), funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. North Carolina has been a network state since 2012. The network project's goal is to advance state-level policy reform, resulting in the award and obligation of federal transportation funds, street-scale improvements and joint-use agreements.

The North Carolina network's action plan can be viewed here. You can follow activities of the North Carolina Safe Routes to School state network in our blog section, on Twitter, on Facebook and on the state-specific website; this site features meeting announcements and local success stories.

Funding for Safe Routes to School

Since 2005, 79 projects totaling approximately $10 million have been selected for funding in North Carolina. There are two pots of federal dollars currently available for Safe Routes to School programs and projects. The first pot is from the old transportation law (SAFETEA-LU), and does not require matching funds. This pot is still available in many states, find out about North Carolina here. The second pot of money is from the Transportation Alternatives Program, in the current transportation bill (MAP-21), and it requires local matching funds. Find out how the North Carolina Department of Transportation is handling this transition here.

State Advisory Committee

North Carolina currently does not have a State Advisory Committee.

State Outreach Programs

North Carolina’s Safe Routes to School program offers the Safe Routes to School National Course workshops to interested schools on an as-requested basis. State-trained instructors teach these courses at no cost to attendees. There have been to date, 68 workshop schools, 48 APSA schools, 19 IN schools, 6 Demonstration schools, 22 NIN 2nd cycle schools, 13 NIN 1st cycle schools, and 42 Division schools. Not all requests that are received can be granted.

North Carolina Safe Routes to School program is honoring requests for speakers at various Rural Planning Organizations (RPO), Metropolitan Planning Organizations, public health conferences, individual schools, and communities interested in starting Safe Routes to School programs. In addition, North Carolina has presented at the state’s Department of Public Instruction’s Healthy Schools Institute and the NC Pupil Transportation Association Conference, and Department of Health and Human Services Successful Students Committee.

North Carolina Partner Affiliates

Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement. If your organization isn't yet a partner affilate, we would love for you to join us; it's free! Find more info on joining here.

Existing Legislation and Policies

North Carolina General Assembly House Bill 817- Could impact bicycle and pedestrian funding, impact funding for future stand-alone bicycle and pedestrian projects, impact the state match for future bicycle and pedestrian projects.

North Carolina General Assembly House Bill 992- Could place speed cameras at school zones and work zones across the state and use revenue to support driver education program funding from the North Carolina Department of Transportation in public schools.

Brevard Elementary School students and recreational walkers in the 7,000-person community in Brevard, NC, will benefit from the Gallimore Road multi-use path to be constructed with a $250,000 Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant awarded in 2008 to the city from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Read more here.

Chapel Hill, NC, is a town of partnerships and relationships; between the University of North Carolina and the Town Council, residents and college students and community groups and schools. One such relationship is between the local elementary schools, local government and Go! Chapel Hill Active Living by Design, a national program that helped to facilitate the spread and success of the Active Routes to School program in Chapel Hill. Find out more here.

Mooresville, NC – Walking and Wheeling to Success

The first Walking and Wheeling Day at Lake Norman Elementary School in Mooresville, NC, was inspired by none other than one persistent third grade student at the school. Read more here.